Fatal attraction: Panchkula lawyer held for wife’s murder

The woman missing since January 16 was murdered by his paramour at his bidding, says cops

Police say Manmohan Kumar (2-L) misled police that his wife Rajni (inset) was missing, after having her murdered. (HT Photo)

The wife of an advocate who went missing on January 16, was murdered by his paramour at his behest, the police said on Saturday.

The advocate, Manmohan Kumar, a practising lawyer at the district courts, has been booked and arrested for the murder as the prime accused, after a confession by his paramour, Monika, resident of Manimajra, who, along with her brother-in-law Sandeep, was arrested on Thursday.

Multiple calls from victim Rajni Bala alias Neetu’s phone to Monika led the police to unravel the murder mystery. Police said before her disappearance on January 16, Rajni, 36, had made a call to Monika, and had also spoken to her for around 20 minutes on January 13.

The victim’s brother, Naresh Kumar, a daily wager who lives in Kharar, said his sister married Manmohan in 2004, and the couple had two children, aged 9 and 11.

During interrogation, Monika confessed she was in a relationship with Manmohan, and it was him who conspired to murder Rajni, and she killed her it at his bidding, they added. DCP Manbir Singh said the police were hunting for the lawyer ever since Monika’s confession, and he was arrested from near Suraj theatre on Saturday night.

“Though it is not clear how and where they murdered the woman, Monika has revealed they killed her in a moving car, before dumping her body somewhere. Manmohan’s arrest will help us find the victim’s body,” investigating officer Sushil Kumar said. “Monika and Sandeep were sent to seven-day police demand on Friday. Manmohan will be produced in court on Sunday,” he added.

Accused misled cops

Sector 20 station house officer (SHO) Vikas Kumar said after having his wife killed, the lawyer had been misleading the police, claiming she was missing.

He first filed a missing person’s complaint at the station on January 16. Four days later, he took the police for a ride, claiming that he got a tip from someone that a woman’s body was seen near a garbage dump in Sector 23, and it was surely his wife. Having swiftly swung into action, cops only found a dog’s corpse after digging the spot.

Victim had left home for market

The police said Rajni left home around 11:15am on January 16, saying she was going to the market, but never returned. Her phone was last operational around 12:15pm near Sector 21. Before it was switched off, she had made a call to Monika, they added.

The victim’s brother, Naresh Kumar, a daily wager who lives in Kharar, said his sister married Manmohan in 2004, and the couple had two children, aged 9 and 11. He said his brother-in-law used to beat Rajni often, as he was peeved at their family not matching his economic status. Naresh claimed Manmohan often visited his house, and threatened to kill him and his sister.